[CR](LONG) Monson MA Swap meet/show report

(Example: Framebuilding:Restoration)

From: "Thomas R. Adams, Jr." <kctommy@msn.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 14:55:05 +0000
Subject: [CR](LONG) Monson MA Swap meet/show report

Your roving correspondent is back, and files this report on the Monson MA swap meet and show.

My weekend started with a Saturday visit to Danielson Connecticut and the Ordinary Bicycle shop, the real world manifestation of Bicycle Classics. The guy at the counter knew just what I wanted when I asked for the head Vintage Bike Weenie, and went to get Alan Schaeffer. Alan graciously took the time to show me around, giving the details of many lovely machines haging in the shop. I recall a Cinelli, a wood rimmed Bianchi, a 50's International and two (count em Two!) Flying Scot frames, one of which had a fresh Baylis paint job. This Baylis kid does good work. He might amount to something in the bike biz.

Alan graciously didn't take advantage of my dazed condition to max out my credit card, but did sell me a nice set of silver caged track pedals, steel toe clips and brake cables I needed for my show bike. If you ever are traveling from NY to Boston, do take a short detour to Danielson. The shop is great, although the building looks like it's ready to fall down. In New England, that's charm!

Now on to Sunday and Monson. First, customers continued to exhibit fiscal prudence and responsiblity, to my regret. My hopes for a buying frenzy at my table never materialized. I sold a few bits and was at least going to break even on a cash flow basis when a late moment of weakness led me to buy two lightly shopworn but unmounted Campy 52 tooth rings, one a NR and one SR for $40 each. I also got a set of Suntour Superbe (?) braze on shifters for $5, and a Campy Musette for $5, with a Zefal umbrella clip thrown in.

Second, the show bikes were primarily single speed ballooners, but there were some classic light weights. There was a RIH NR/early SR bike, a Batavus track machine, a Raleigh Team Record in team colors and a Libertas kitted out in Black early Dura Ace, except for an incongruous XT rear derailer (but at least it was black!). I showed my Gipiemme Benotto (apparently a common breed in New England as the frame and parts stimulated reminiscences amoung several old racers) and my "new" '54 Major Nichols. This frame has been discussed before on the list regarding it's eBay sale and paint, which is all in the archives. Somehow it ended up with me, and I built it up with mostly early Nuovo Record bits and a set of Universal 68 brakes with drilled levers. From two feet away she looks great, and drew a lot of interest and comments.

Third, there weren't many CR listees in attendance. Peter Naiman didn't make it, so there wasn't a Hetchins to be seen, but Eric Ehlman showed up. Eric was my eyes on the floor, and bird dogged the Campy rings and Musette for me. I also know he scored two boxes of assorted cotton tape. If you were there and I missed you, I'm sorry. Next time, name tags!

But unfortunately, Eric had to leave early so he missed my moment of glory when the show organizer, Jim Huntington, strolled up at the end of the show and presented me with the plaque for Best Original Racer for my Benotto. Of course it isn't 'original' as I got it as a bare frame, nor was it the 'best' as the RIH was nicer and in much better condition, but, hey, an award is an award and I wasn't going to tell. I suspect Jim had too many plaques and not enough different exhibitors and had to give it to someone. I'd like to thank all the little people who made the award possible---

Actually, special thanks do go out to Baron Corpuz, my international Gipiemme agent who supplied at least 1/3 of the parts, and Jeremy Haynes who innocently gave me a set of Gipiemme hubs 2 years ago and started the whole thing. Now that it's a prize winning show bike (har!) I may bring the Benotto to the Cirque. You'll recongnize me; I'll be the one with the award plaque hung around my neck.

Tom Adams, Shrewsbury NJ

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